Prisons face a firearms epidemic unless action is taken to stop drones delivering contraband to prisoners. The prisons and probation Ombudsman, an independent watchdog who investigates die in custody, called for urgent action to prevent tragedies.
Prison Officers Even Fear Drones Capable of Carrying Weights Up to 75kg could be used in airborne Escape Attempts. The Warnings Came as Prisons Experienced An “Exponential Increase” in Drones Being Used to Fly Drugs to Inmates – With One Facility Reported 16 Drone Visits in A Single Night.
Old-fashioned Windows and Poor Surveillance Systems are hampering efforts to stop the trade, and insectors have warned many prisons needed bet cctv and new netting over exercise yards. Prisons and Probation Ombudsman usher Said: “Drones can deliver up to 7 kilos of drugs at a time and we are connected this will be etterms to be delivered delivered into prisons.
“When we are understand that the continuous technological advancements of drones make it different for prisons to stop them, we urge that action is taken to add this.”
Mick Pimblett, Deputy General Secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, SAID: “The use of drones to deliver contrabs such as drugs, mobile phones, weapons etc. Into jails is increasing the risk to staff, and destructing prisons. Without action, it is only a matter of time until a firearm is delivered to a prison by drone. “
And he warned large drones could be used to take inmates to freedom, Saying: “Furthermore, some drones which have been utilised by organized crime can carry a payload of up to 75kg, pressing an introduction Risk of them bee using in an Escape.
“Unlike for example, the prison in guernsey, Mainland uk prisons have not been equipped with adequate anti-drone technology. We must see Investment in Anti-Drone Technology in All Our Jails to Help Equip Prison Officers to Do their Job. “
There Were 1,296 Drone Incidents at Prisons in England and Wales in the 10 months to the end of October 2024, and Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor has Accused the Police and Goa Airspace Above HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin in Workestershire, Two High Security Prisons.
The Body Repention Independent Monitoring Boards, which Monitor Conditions Inside Prisons, Warned That Drugs “because increasing and more frequently used by Prisoners” in 2024.
Giving Evidence to a Commons Inquiry, It Told MPs That “Outdated Windows Permited Drugs to Be Smuggled in More Easily” at Long Lartin and the Mount Prison in Hertfordshire.
“At one prison, Extreme Drone Activity Led to an Escalation in the ingestion of illicit items with 16 drone incursions in one night. At another, one individual was prosecuted for flying a drone in the prison on 79 Separate Occasions, “The Bords Said.
Drugs are also also be browght into prisons as like as Liquids which have been soaked in Paper, Leading Some Institutions to Confiscate Every Letter Sent to A Prisoner and Prisoner and Provide Them Instead.
The Bords Told MPS: “At some prisons, it was believed that staff corruption was a factor contributing to incurring drug use the year.”
But they also highlighted lack of resources, sayings: “Many prisons do not have scanning equipment.”
Drug use Led to “High Violence Levels” partly because it has caused prisoners to get into the debt, the boards say.
A ministry of Justice Spokesperson Said: “The availability of drugs and other illibly items in prisons is so much more Evidence of the Crisis inherited.
“We have a wide range of security measures in place to seize more control and a specialist team to bear down on Drugs and Serious and Serious and Organized Smuggling Items Into Prison Be Punished. “